At the conclusion of John 14 Jesus said, “I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world [Satan] is coming…Arise, let us go from here” (14:30a, 31)” which indicated that the time for His crucifixion was near. Whether Jesus and His disciples then left the upper room where He was speaking to them or began their journey toward the Garden of Gethsemane is not known; however, Jesus next words were profound in instructing them about three relationships which would continue following His departure: relationship of believers to Jesus (15:1-11), relationship of believers to one another (15:12-17), and relationship of believers to those who do not believe (15:18-16:4). Why did Jesus address His disciples about these relationships? These three relationships encompass the entire Christian lifestyle and if they were to carry out Jesus’ message, they must focus on these relationships. Love for Christ (15:1-11) leads to love for each other (15:12-17) and those who love Christ and others will testify of hope through Jesus Christ (15:18-16:4).
Illustrating the relationship an individual should have with God, Jesus provides the picture of a vine and branches (15:1-11). The true vine is Jesus, making this the final (seventh) I AM statement throughout the gospel of John (see also 6:35; 8:12; 10:7, 9; 10:11, 14; 11:25; 14:6). These I AM statements were meant to provide proof that Jesus is the Son of God and Messiah and this particular claim to deity identified Jesus as the One who gives life to the branches (believers). Life is given to all those who confess their sin and believe in Jesus as the payment for sin (John 3:16-17, 36). Without Jesus, no man can have eternal life or a relationship with God the Father (John 14:6). Jesus also introduces the vinedresser (gardener), who is God the Father, and He protects the vine as well as the branches. Jesus then mentions that flowing from the vine are two types of branches: those which do not produce fruit (15:2a) and those which bear fruit (15:2b). The branches which do not bear fruit symbolize individuals who claim they are related to Jesus, but do not really have genuine faith. The fact that the gardener (God the Father) takes away these dead branches reveals that they never had life. In fact, Jesus later says, “If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned” (15:6). People who reject Jesus are guaranteed eternal destruction in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).
On the other hand, the branches which bear fruit (having right attitudes and actions) illustrate those who have been given life through faith in Jesus Christ. Living branches are pruned so that they might bear more fruit. The picture here exposes that God the Father often disciplines (prunes) the living branches so that they can grow more (see also Hebrews 12:3-11). Pruning involves removing sin or distractions which would cause the believer to become stagnant in his love for God and others. So, how does a person make sure he is growing in His relationship with God? Abiding or remaining in the truth evidences life and, of course, this life cannot happen outside of a relationship with the vine, Jesus Christ (15:4). Jesus then gives the benefits of remaining in Him, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples” (15:7). Jesus does mention that one of the major indicators of genuine life in Christ is obedience to God’s words and commands (15:7-10) so that a right relationship with God is accurately reflected through continual obedience to His commandments.
The next teaching of Jesus surrounds the relationship of believers to each other (15:12-17). Jesus says, “This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you” (15:12-14). Jesus’ followers should love one another the way Jesus had shown love to them – by sacrificing and being selfless toward others. Although Jesus’ final instructions regarding a believer’s relationship to those who do not believe is not encouraging, He does identify Himself with the hatred they will experience as His followers. Jesus reminds His disciples, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (15:18-19). Persecution from those who do not believe should not discourage Jesus’ followers from testifying of salvation through His name (15:26-27). Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come in order to empower them to carry on in the face of opposition (John 16:1-4; see also Acts 1:8). As the disciples were bold, we also must be courageous in spreading the message of hope to a lost and dying world.
Dear God, in my relationship with You, help me to bear more fruit. In my relationship with others, help me to love selflessly. In my relationship to those who do not believe, help me to be courageous for the truth.
